News Preview: Land Of Kings 2013

Say what you will about the rise and fall of Dalston, but there are some things you can’t fault this love-hate neighbourhood on. One of these is the 15-hour long, Bank Holiday festival Land Of Kings that returns to north-east London for its fifth year this weekend (Sunday 5th May). The others are its bagel shop and choice of train stations (two).

Spanning across more than 20 venues in Dalston and its periphery from jazz bars to tents, theatres and roof tops, Land of Kings offers an equally impressive and diverse line up of disco, dubstep, reggae, drum ‘n’ bass, house, psychedelia and a “music improvisation collective.” How d’ya like them apples?

Kicking off at 2pm and running through ‘til 5am, there’s an awful lot take in, especially considering the sun-induced lethargy likely to descend on east London on Sunday. Here’s what not to miss (given how time works you won’t actually be able to see them all):

Bugged Out 10x10
Given Bugged Out’s reputation for perennially peddling exceptional dance music, when they ask 10 djs to play their 10 favourite tracks, you better be there. The picks of the bunch playing at the Arcola Bar include the ridiculously-talented house merchant Riton and UNKLE’s James Lavelle and that dubstep chap Skream.

Rory Philips
Playing twice, first solo and then back to back with Kiwi, Rory Philips is known for his eclectic dj sets and remix work, having deconstructed The xx, The Teenagers and Robyn. Taking to the decks well into the night Durrr in The Stone Cave, he’s worth a visit.

Drums of Death
Every bank holiday needs a man in skeleton facepaint belting out smooth house and gothic-laced techno. He plays the peak slot at Birthdays.

Dark Sky
This trio’s music is just sex. Taking inspiration from the resurgence of garage and the like, their production and remixes are consistently crisp and laden with a delicate club value that needs to be heard in a grimy, underground sweatbox. They close the night at Alibi.

The Wave Pictures
It’s not all djs and dancing, The Wave Pictures offer a more forgiving, vaguely irreverent, pop-country-rock-type sound. Likely to be playing as the sun sets in Dalston, this is for those who have had enough of Dalston taking itself too seriously.

Orchestra Elastique
It’s a musical improvisation collective full of “multi-instrumentalists” and you’re on a roof. Need we say more.

Land Of Kings will take place on 5th May in various venues across East London.